For now, this is less about the result as about the process. This is less about Steve Kerr spurning the Knicks, more about the way Phil Jackson went about the business of wooing and recruiting Kerr.

And what, exactly, he will really bring to the table — or be able to bring there — as the face, brain and soul of the Knicks.

Listen, there are no guarantees about Kerr, and never were. You can project qualities and qualifications to succeed in that job, but it isn’t a science. Kerr has coached zero games in the NBA, conducted zero practices. The Warriors may well be getting an all-time great for their five years and $25 million, but there’s no telling if he’s even as good as the guy they just let go.

So this isn’t really about Kerr at all.

It’s about Jackson. And unless he has been playing a splendid game of misdirection these past few weeks, the entirety of his search to replace Mike Woodson has amounted to one man: Kerr. Until Wednesday, Jackson (or his bosses) reportedly wasn’t willing to go to a fourth guaranteed year, wasn’t willing to empty the bank account to hire a guy with no experience on the job.

(Good for Jackson that the man who hired him, James Dolan, wasn’t as bashful about doling out MSG money for a non-existent track record …)

This is the most telling thing:

Jackson had targeted Kerr as his man. They met. They talked. They haggled. But even through all of that, it seemed Kerr was destined to work for the Knicks because of his relationship with Jackson and, for a while, because he didn’t have anything better to ponder, besides staying in the seat next to Marv Albert on TNT.

That changed instantly when Stan Van Gundy, the favorite to replace Mark Jackson in Oakland, decided instead to accept the Pistons’ offer for full control in Detroit. With the Warriors’ gig now in play, Kerr and his agent, old friend Mike Tannenbaum, had their leverage,

And suddenly this isn’t quite the quaint story it seemed destined to be, the father turning over the family business to the loyal son.

And, suddenly, the Knicks remain without a coach and without a true Plan B.

All along, the best option for Phil Jackson the GM was also one that has never been in play: hiring Phil Jackson the Coach. Age and health will never let that happen. So the usual suspects now are Derek Fisher, another Jackson protégé who would be making the Jason Kidd Jump. Or there are Jackson’s closest cronies, Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons, and neither of them has had anywhere close to the kind of success as the man Jackson just fired.

Steve Kerr will be coaching the Golden State Warriors.Photo: Getty Images

But most telling — and troubling — aspect of all is this: The strongest part of Jackson’s game, the thing that allowed everyone to overlook the gaping hole in his GM-free résumé, was it was believed — assumed — that by force of personality and sway of his 11 rings he would be able to coax, convince and connive enough talent to rebuild and reload the Knicks, the way his ancient rival, Pat Riley, did in Miami.

Bolstered by that hubris, he already has talked to Carmelo Anthony about taking less money to stay with the Knicks so Jackson can pad the roster with the extra cash as he hits the recruiting trail. That was an odd play anyway, never seemed remotely connected to logic.

And now that he has seen Jackson’s first attempt at closing?

How’s Anthony supposed to feel about that?

Look, Kerr had plenty of reasons to prefer Golden State, starting with the money, factoring in its proximity to his home, mostly the fact the Warriors enjoy a far more talent-laden roster than the Knicks.

And make no mistake: It’s not all that hardto find Dolan detractors, and Kerr has spent a lot of time this spring shoulder-to-shoulder with Albert, the exiled prince of the Garden broadcast booth, who has as many war stories about life in Dolan’s Garden as anyone. It’s the same bargain Jackson had to ponder while he, too, took his time mulling his options back in March.

But Jackson understood those conditions when he took Dolan’s money. He was supposed to be bigger than that, bigger than his owner, bigger than whatever impediments that may or may not have been lurking as a result. He was hired to be a closer. And still may be. But we’re still waiting to find out.

Is Jackson to blame for failing to land Kerr?

Mark Jackson was the right guy years ago before Walsh hired Dantoni. Passing him up was one of the hugest mistakes ever made by the Knicks. He loved the Knicks and never wanted to leave. And should not have been traded. Mark Jackson is still the right guy to coach now. He would give the job his heart and soul in a way Steve Kerr never could.

Steve Kerr is a big mistake for the Knicks anyway - he never wanted to be in NY, he is just following Phil Jackson until his hometown area called in. We want a coach to come to NY that is willing to be here regardless of the pressures he would endure in NY. He had to be willing to take the challenges if he would coach the Knicks.

Why do NY writers always try to paint a negative picture - bunch of Lupica want-a-bees and Lupica is a moron. He tried to get his top choice and it did not work out because of factors that were well know - Kerr is a west coast guy living in SOCO with his family plus strong ties with GS ownership and upper management. Jackson will just move on to the next round of candidates and the Knicks will have a coach in a few days. Coaches don't win championships - players do and we need to wait until 2015 when there is money to spend on free agents. All this failure and overplay talk is just nonsense - life doesn't work out the way you want it to - move on and get a good coach.

Welcome to New York Phil. A town made up of self professing expert psychic fans and know it all sports writers. The same ones that complain when a blank check is given to those who don't work out but only when they don't work out. Everything has to be done at the pace of dream happy know it alls. Perhaps in something we call the real world, Jackson actually put a value on an assett, Kerr. Stuck with it, despite his desire to hire him or any convoluted notion he would be a savior, as most non basketball executive minds would have done. See example above. Kinda wished we had Jackson during some of our past ridiculous contracts? If we are goimg to compare, Fisher is a better fit. Just as hungry and can better relate to players. Hopefully Phils approach is unlike all the past incompetent GM's, idiot owners, wannabe writers and delusional fans. Build a team with carefully thought out decisions and not hype driven knee jerk moves. Every one had Kerr as the next Phil Jackson and the guy to commit to during Jackson entire contract with the Knicks, except Phil Jackson.

This is clearly a friend hooking up a friend with a gig. If Jackson had shown interest in a bunch of candidates no one would have cared about Kerr. But for Jackson name him his man, he got all the other teams fired up for him and got Kerr a better offer than he could even have given him. Pretty smart dude if you ask me.

I've been on board with Jackson's hiring, telling all the detractors that he was the best man for the job. Their reply to me was Jackson only had experience and success as HC, never in his current position. Had the Knicks not hired Jackson, they would still have the challenge of searching for a HC......they would still be rejected by their choices. Had Jackson not been hired, this current setback would be another that the old regime would handle badly. At the outset, Jackson cannot totally erase the sour taste coming out of the Knicks side of the Garden, but he is the best guy to pour just enough honey to attract just enough bees.....over time. My guess, it will not take that long.

Breaking news....New York Knicks president of basketball operations, Phil Jackson, addressed the media regarding the hiring of his targeted coach Steve Kerr by the Golden State Warriors. "Steve would have been a perfect fit for us, as we share similar basketball philosophies. However, the timing was bad for Steve to come here to New York. Steve has family commitments on the west coast and this is a year where he needs to spend time supporting members of his family who reside there. With the improvements in travel comfort and through the break throughs made by medical science in recent times, I've reached an important decision. As of this moment, I'm the best candidate to coach the Knicks and after carefully evaluating the situation, I have decided to make a return to coaching and lead the Knicks in their coming season. My tenure as coach will be dependent upon two things. Firstly, my health is obviously a concern. I believe that I can coach for a season or two. Secondly, I'm looking to groom one of my assistant coaches to take over the job. When I'm comfortable that the team is in good hands, I will relinquish my position as coach. Thank you. I won't be taking any questions at this time." Suddenly my alarm rang and I was jolted from a very sound sleep ready to begin a new day here in Australia.

@Bandido Absolutely Bandido. You have it right on all points. Mark Jackson should have never been traded as a player, as you say. And they did it twice! Mark Jackson should've been giving a head coaching job 7 years ago -- he had to wait a long time for one, then proved his value. The ownership in Golden State seems to be one that is REALLY meddlesome, versus the ficticious meddlesomeness that the NY media would have you believe James Dolan is.

And you are right -- Mark Jackson would probably do very well under Phil Jackson -- they are both smart basketball people. Golden State owners are not.

@Stephen Woloszyn That is great for Kerr but what exactly does it do for the Knicks? I doubt what your saying is remotely true. This happened because of Dolan. He didn't want to add a fifth year and a extra 5 mill for Kerr. Or Kerr didn't get the assurances he needed to feel comfortable enough to take the job.

@Anthony Enough with this Dolan Bull spit when Dolan gave Jackson total control of the Knicks that is exactly what he did gave him total control this is on Jackson not on Dip shit Dolan .Kerr made Jackson look bad this was his choice and he made him look bad . Now the next choice he make better be right he either take control of the Knicks coaching Problem or choice Mark Jackson .Those assistance are just that assistance .Choice right Phil ?.

@Yankees Pride@mgd55PERHAPS, however, this bunch of fat, rich underachievers quit on Woodson; that was so obvious. Have you seen any Spurs team lay down for Pops, even after FOUR RINGS? Did you see any Bulls team dog it with Phil? Did Riley's Lakers ignore him? No f--kg way! The guy in the suit on the sidelines DOES matter a great deal...not to help a guy hit an open jumper or cover a man, but in so many other ways and Woodson lost this team and Melo was as guilty as Chandler, Felton, Shump, etc. Don't know what kind of coach Kerr will be and it doesn't matter. This problem starts with the roster's attitude and the owner scaring potential candidates away...........

@1VancouverGuy@mgd55 PERHAPS, however, this bunch of fat, rich underachievers quit on Woodson; that was so obvious. Have you seen any Spurs team lay down for Pops, even after FOUR RINGS? Did you see any Bulls team dog it with Phil? Did Riley's Lakers ignore him? No f--kg way! The guy in the suit on the sidelines DOES matter a great deal...not to help a guy hit an open jumper or cover a man, but in so many other ways and Woodson lost this team and Melo was as guilty as Chandler, Felton, Shump, etc. Don't know what kind of coach Kerr will be and it doesn't matter. This problem starts with the roster's attitude and the owner scaring potential candidates away........................